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empty and they were almost upon me； and then a glance
showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had disappeared
among the hills； I sprang up； throwing down my useless gun；
and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by
Sola and her charge。
If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping； it was
granted those astonished warriors on that day long years ago；
but while it led them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract
their attention from endeavoring to capture me。
They raced wildly after me until； finally； my foot struck a
projecting piece of quartz； and down I went sprawling upon
the moss。 As I looked up they were upon me； and although
I drew my long…sword in an attempt to sell my life as
dearly as possible； it was soon over。 I reeled beneath their
blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents； my head swam；
all was black； and I went down beneath them to oblivion。
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAINED IN WARHOON
It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness
and I well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me
as I realized that I was not dead。
I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the
corner of a small room in which were several green warriors；
and bending over me was an ancient and ugly female。
As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors； saying；
〃He will live； O Jed。〃
〃'Tis well；〃 replied the one so addressed； rising and approaching
my couch； 〃he should render rare sport for the great games。〃
And now as my eyes fell upon him； I saw that he was no
Thark； for his ornaments and metal were not of that horde。
He was a huge fellow； terribly scarred about the face and
chest； and with one broken tusk and a missing ear。 Strapped
on either breast were human skulls and depending from
these a number of dried human hands。
His reference to the great games of which I had heard so
much while among the Tharks convinced me that I had but
jumped from purgatory into gehenna。
After a few more words with the female； during which
she assured him that I was now fully fit to travel； the jed
ordered that we mount and ride after the main column。
I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a
thoat as I had ever seen； and； with a mounted warrior on
either side to prevent the beast from bolting； we rode forth
at a furious pace in pursuit of the column。 My wounds gave
me but little pain； so wonderfully and rapidly had the
applications and injections of the female exercised their
therapeutic powers； and so deftly had she bound and plastered
the injuries。
Just before dark we reached the main body of troops
shortly after they had made camp for the night。 I was
immediately taken before the leader； who proved to be the
jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon。
Like the jed who had brought me； he was frightfully
scarred； and also decorated with the breastplate of human
skulls and dried dead hands which seemed to mark all the
greater warriors among the Warhoons； as well as to indicate
their awful ferocity； which greatly transcends even that of
the Tharks。
The jeddak； Bar Comas； who was comparatively young；
was the object of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old
lieutenant； Dak Kova； the jed who had captured me； and I
could not but note the almost studied efforts which the
latter made to affront his superior。
He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered
the presence of the jeddak； and as he pushed me roughly before
the ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice。
〃I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a
Thark whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild
thoat at the great games。〃
〃He will die as Bar Comas； your jeddak； sees fit； if at all；〃
replied the young ruler； with emphasis and dignity。
〃If at all？〃 roared Dak Kova。 〃By the dead hands at my
throat but he shall die； Bar Comas。 No maudlin weakness
on your part shall save him。 O； would that Warhoon were
ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a water…hearted
weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal
with his bare hands！〃
Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for
an instant； his expression one of haughty； fearless contempt
and hate； and then without drawing a weapon and without
uttering a word he hurled himself at the throat of his defamer。
I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle
with nature's weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity
which ensued was as fearful a thing as the most disordered
imagination could picture。 They tore at each others' eyes
and ears with their hands and with their gleaming tusks
repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly to
ribbons from head to foot。
Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was
stronger； quicker and more intelligent。 It soon seemed that
the encounter was done saving only the final death thrust
when Bar Comas slipped in breaking away from a clinch。 It
was the one little opening that Dak Kova needed； and hurling
himself at the body of his adversary he buried his single
mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful
effort ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of
his body； the great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar
Comas' jaw。 Victor and vanquished rolled limp and lifeless
upon the moss； a huge mass of torn and bloody flesh。
Bar Comas was stone dead； and only the most herculean efforts on
the part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved。
Three days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar
Comas which； by custom； had not been moved from where it fell；
and placing his foot upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he
assumed the title of Jeddak of Warhoon。
The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added
to the ornaments of his conqueror； and then his women
cremated what remained； amid wild and terrible laughter。
The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so
greatly that it was decided to give up the expedition； which
was a raid upon a small Thark community in retaliation for
the destruction of the incubator； until after the great games；
and the entire body of warriors； ten thousand in number；
turned back toward Warhoon。
My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people
was but an index to the scenes I witnessed almost daily
while with them。 They are a smaller horde than the Tharks
but much more ferocious。 Not a day passed but that some
members of the various Warhoon communities met in deadly
combat。 I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a
single day。
We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days
march and I was immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily
chained to the floor and walls。 Food was brought me at
intervals but owing to the utter darkness of the place I do not
know whether I lay there days； or weeks； or months。 It was
the most horrible experience of all my life and that my
mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness
has been a wonder to me ever since。 The place was filled
with creeping； crawling things； cold； sinuous bodies passed
over me when I lay down； and in the darkness I occasionally
caught glimpses of gleaming； fiery eyes； fixed in horrible
intentness upon me。 No sound reached me from the world
above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my
food was brought to me； although I at first bombarded him
with questions。
Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these
awful creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was
centered by my tottering reason upon this single emissary
who represented to me the entire horde of Warhoons。
I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim
torch to where he could place the food within my reach and
as he stooped to place it upon the floor his head was about
on a level with my breast。 So； with the cunning of a madman；
I backed into the far corner of my cell when next I heard
him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great
chain which held me in my hand I waited his coming；
crouching like some beast of prey。 As he stooped to place
my food upon the ground I swung the chain above my head
and crashed the links with all my strength upon his skull。
Without a sound he slipped to the floor； stone dead。
Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming
I fell upon his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his
dead throat。 Presently they came in contact with a small
chain at the end of which dangled a number of keys。 The
touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my reason
with the suddenness of thought。 No longer was I a jibbering
idiot； but a sane； reasoning man with the means of escape
within my very hands。
As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's
neck I glanced up into th